Compare towns

Putnam vs Worcester vs Exeter vs Hague

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hague has the most expensive homes ($326k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasurePutnamWorcesterExeterHague
People
Population
540Lowest
831
913Highest
703
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
61.3±11.8Highest
58% above U.S.
Hague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
36.8%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$81,845±$12k
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$325,900±$124kHighest
about the U.S. average
Hague and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,023±$136Highest
28% below U.S.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$714±$144Lowest
49% below U.S.
Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,491
12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.2%±50.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hague and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — —
High school in town None in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.